It’s scary how much work goes into putting together TODAY’s Halloween extravaganza.
This year, the TODAY family paid homage to iconic ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s movies, with the anchors and co-hosts revealing their costumes from blockbuster films of years past. The end product was on point, but it took a true team effort to make it a reality.
“Creating a morning like this, as you can imagine, it’s a full-time job. We got fittings. There’s rehearsals. We all slept out here on the plaza last night in sleeping bags, memorizing our endless amounts of lines and moves,” Carson Daly joked, as he was joined onstage on TODAY on Oct. 31 by his colleagues, who were in their costumes after the reveal.
“What, like it’s hard?” Savannah Guthrie chimed in, echoing “Legally Blonde’s” Elle Woods, whom she dressed as for the party.
Indeed, it is hard. This year featured the TODAY crew throwing it back in time by pretending to be in a rental store looking for a video to rent.
“This is the ‘90s hair I wished I had,” Savannah said in a behind-the-scenes peek at what it took to put the event together.
Craig Melvin lamented how when he was a kid he couldn’t get his father to buy him a cool pair of sneakers that he wore in the skit. Craig, who dressed as Axel Foley from “Beverly Hills Cop,” also marveled at the attention to detail in his costume, notably the pins on the Detroit Lions jacket he wore.
Savannah sat down to get fitted for a wig, while Carson got gussied up as Austin Powers.
Sheinelle Jones, meanwhile, hit the dance floor, working on a routine as Foxxy Cleopatra from “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”
“We made the set on a Saturday morning and now here we are, so this is going to be so fun,” she said.
Laura Jarrett also rehearsed as Isis from “Bring It On,” while Dylan Dreyer, who portrayed Lydia from “Beetlejuice,” worked with Al Roker, who played the menacing demon, to get their bit down pat.
“It’s my favorite thing, when Al and I get to be a team,” Dylan gushed.
Willie Geist showed a flair for ego as “Anchorman’s” Ron Burgundy, even pouring himself a drink after the TODAY family went outside to rehearse at 5 a.m. before putting on their makeup and costumes.
“It’s not fair. He gets to drink bourbon in the morning?” Carson joked.
“You’re not acting!” followed up Al.
Al’s Beetlejuice, meanwhile, was effective. He scared Hoda — who dressed as Jack from “Titanic” alongside Jenna Bush Hager’s Rose — and Craig when they got a look at him.
In the end, it all came together for a memorable holiday.
“Another awesome Halloween,” Savannah said.